Jack Staff - Britain's Greatest Hero has been released in 3 different collections. I think this book is a good read. I have been picking up issues and collections now for over a year. I found it very enjoyable.
The character was originally in a story proposal Paul Grist wrote for Marvel Comics Captain Britain. Marvel rejected the story. Rather than throw it away Grist has made up his own character and created his own universe of super-heroes. Too bad for Marvel-their loss!
He does draw upon many character templates Marvel & DC use. You can point to many supporting characters and say, oh thats Captain America, the HULK, the Spectre, Conan, etc. However he takes it all much further. There are also influences from Kolchak, X-Files, Astro City, Legue of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Hellboy and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The book is very complex and as a writer Paul Grist knows how to weave intricate sub-plots, ( and time travel stories). Perhaps a bit more than what you would expect for a book of this type.
The art style is not as serious as regular superhero comics. I would say Paul Grist is sometihng like a British Steve Ditko or a lighter, more accessible, Mike Mignola. The art lends itself well to parody and Grists particular sense of humor.
The first run of B&W are collected here:
Jack Staff Volume 1: Everything Used To Be Black And White
These were the Color issues which started coming out while the B&W series was wrapping up:
Jack Staff Volume 2: Soldiers
Jack Staff Volume 3: Echoes Of Tomorrow
This collection seems to be out of print now:
Jack Staff Yesterdays Heroes Volume 1
However I think it's only the first 5 B&W issues and they are available in Vol. 1now anyway.
The character was originally in a story proposal Paul Grist wrote for Marvel Comics Captain Britain. Marvel rejected the story. Rather than throw it away Grist has made up his own character and created his own universe of super-heroes. Too bad for Marvel-their loss!
He does draw upon many character templates Marvel & DC use. You can point to many supporting characters and say, oh thats Captain America, the HULK, the Spectre, Conan, etc. However he takes it all much further. There are also influences from Kolchak, X-Files, Astro City, Legue of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Hellboy and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. The book is very complex and as a writer Paul Grist knows how to weave intricate sub-plots, ( and time travel stories). Perhaps a bit more than what you would expect for a book of this type.
The art style is not as serious as regular superhero comics. I would say Paul Grist is sometihng like a British Steve Ditko or a lighter, more accessible, Mike Mignola. The art lends itself well to parody and Grists particular sense of humor.
The first run of B&W are collected here:
Jack Staff Volume 1: Everything Used To Be Black And White
These were the Color issues which started coming out while the B&W series was wrapping up:
Jack Staff Volume 2: Soldiers
Jack Staff Volume 3: Echoes Of Tomorrow
This collection seems to be out of print now:
Jack Staff Yesterdays Heroes Volume 1
However I think it's only the first 5 B&W issues and they are available in Vol. 1now anyway.
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